Whelping Box?

[BluwaterNewfs]

Here are a few pictures of mine. As you can see, the ledge goes around the whole box and I have an opening at one end. The opening has 2 panels so it can be partially open or completely closed. My ledge comes out when the puppies start climbing on it. I don't think the pipe is big enough to offer the protection ledge does. The puppies can't really get under the pipe.

 

[Sun Valley]

Hey Joan,

Love the blue color of your box...but I have to say, I think Lynn's box is the nicest I've seen so far...although Lynn, I'm not crazy about the pipes for ledges....

Lou Ann

 

[Sound Bay Newfs]

Hey Joan,

Love the blue color of your box...but I have to say, I think Lynn's box is the nicest I've seen so far...although Lynn, I'm not crazy about the pipes for ledges....

Lou Ann

The PVC piping works great for me. What don't you like about them?

 

[Sun Valley]

Lynn,

I just prefer a ledge so I can sit on it while whelping. Can puppies get under the pipe without being crushed?

Lou Ann

 

[Sound Bay Newfs]

Lynn,

I just prefer a ledge so I can sit on it while whelping. Can puppies get under the pipe without being crushed?

Lou Ann

Yes, they fit under just fine. They are up about 4". That is 3" PVC pipe so it is quite large. The bands holding it up, I adjust as the pups grow. So I raise it as needed when they need more room. Then when they are bigger and start to use it as a step to climb out, I just remove them so they are out of the way and the pups have more room.

 

[BluwaterNewfs]

Hey Joan,

Love the blue color of your box...but I have to say, I think Lynn's box is the nicest I've seen so far...although Lynn, I'm not crazy about the pipes for ledges....

Lou Ann

Well I had to have a blue box with my kennel name. Although I have to say the color looks much brighter in the pictures. It real doesn't look neon blue in person but it is a pretty color if I do say so myself.

I agree with you about the pipes. I have also seen the pipes set up like cavalette's (sp) sitting a little off the wall with the ends sitting in an 'X' shaped brace. Still not a fan of them.

 

[Ginny]

I read through all of your thoughts and suggestions and had this whelping box made. It's 6'X8'X24" with a removable pig rail and is easy to assemble and disassemble. It's fairly heavy though. The sides are made out of the same stuff my kennel walls are covered with. It's a fiberglass product that can be power-washed off. Initially, I wanted seats that could be moved around, but the fellow that made it felt as though screwing them down would keep my fat behind from tumbling down! The sucker nearly takes up the entire living room, but I'm thrilled with it. What we won't do for our dogs...

(Please know that I have tons more people wanting pups from the upcoming litter than I can handle, so this is not a solicitation.)

 

[janices]

Just a suggestion, cut the holes for handles, which makes it very easy to carry once broken apart.

This was made from plans at http://www.mcemn.com/WB-WhelpingBox.html . It's coated in polyurethane which was very easy to clean. Size is 5x6.

Good luck with your litter.

 

[Ginny]

Good idea Janice. I'll either do the holes or put a few handles on the 8' sides. That'll make moving it a bit easier.

 

[newfvo]

One thing that I love about my boxes is the "whelp nest" that is recessed into the bottom in one corner. It is a dish shaped heating unit that cradles young puppies and provides a warm spot when they get a bit older as well.

 

[Ginny]

I checked into the nest, but thought it might be too small. I've got a large temp. controlled heating mat. Do I need an overhead lamp too?

 

[BluwaterNewfs]

I think depends on your room. I had a large heating pad in my whelping box. But I also have halogen lights in teh room where I set up my box. We had the overhead lamp with the first litter, Sugar, after the 2nd or 3rd day, kept trying to take the puppies out of the box. We realized it was to warm. I set the lamp up now but never seem to use it. And mind you, my litters, were born the week before Xmas. It was cold outside but the room I use is normal the warmest room in the house, It is my den/office.

 

[janices]

I also had a large heating pad in my whelping box. I used fleece blanket and whelping blanket from Masterpiece Pet Products , in the bottom. I cut a couple to fit for switch out when cleaning. Cushioning was good, footing good and fleece added some warmth too. I didn't need the lamp.

 

[Pipelineozzy]

My whelping box is 4 feet x 7 feet, and I put lino on the floor of it for ease of cleaning. But mine do not stay in the box for very long...as soon as they are getting around good, I remove the end of the box and make a much bigger area with an expen, as this seems to encourage cleanliness in them when they can select an area to "potty" and an area to sleep, and they have that until they move to the puppy room. I have attachments in the corners to keep a blanket stretched for traction, and I cover that with those waterproof pads that hospitals use on the beds...so that I can change areas of the box very quickly if they get soiled and do the whole box once daily with disinfectant.

 

[Pipelineozzy]

I don't use a heating pad, but have a heat lamp in one corner so that they can get to it if they desire, but do not have to be under it if they are warm enough. When they are cold, they will huddle in a pile, if too warm, they SCREAM lol. If I find them huddling, I put them closer to the lamp. The reason I like the lamp is because it's red and gives a soft light at night so mom can see where they are...and I can sleep with the red light on but a white lite would drive me crazy.

 

[janices]

My whelping box is 4 feet x 7 feet, and I put lino on the floor of it for ease of cleaning. But mine do not stay in the box for very long...as soon as they are getting around good, I remove the end of the box and make a much bigger area with an expen, as this seems to encourage cleanliness in them when they can select an area to "potty" and an area to sleep, and they have that until they move to the puppy room. I have attachments in the corners to keep a blanket stretched for traction, and I cover that with those waterproof pads that hospitals use on the beds...so that I can change areas of the box very quickly if they get soiled and do the whole box once daily with disinfectant.

Same here. Didn't stay in the box very long. I had an xpen area with a couple of crates, area to sleep, area to potty for the same reason. By the time new owners picked them up, they were well on their way to being crate trained and house trained. I had a lino underneath the blanket with good footing for easy cleaning and was using waterproof pads that hospitals use to change areas very quickly if need be. I downed the box when no longer needed.

 

[Sound Bay Newfs]

I too have a whelping area that opens up to another section for play and exercise (you can see it on page 2 of this thread, if you want). Having the two sections is really helpful for potty training and exercise as the pups mature. I also love the red heat lamp too. It is a lot easier on the eyes for both people and pups. I use a blue boat tarps on the bottom and cover with bedding. The bedding can easily be removed and washed while the tarp is disinfected.

 

[Sun Valley]

I had a bad experience with a heat lamp so I'll never use one again. I tried the whelping nest and also found it to be too small.

I LOVE the Lectro heat mats. I also don't keep my whelping/family room extremely hot like so many of the books say to do so or Mom won't stay in the box for any length of time.

I find that if a puppy that gets chilled there are usually other issues or problems going on with the puppy.

Lou Ann

 

[DreamTime Newfs]

I also love the Lectro heat mats. But you have to make sure to purchase the thermostat to control the temp. I kept it on the lowest setting. I do not keep the whelping room hot either. The pups spend most of their time on the mat for the first few weeks. My repro Vet said that he would rather see the pups huddled up together on the mat then spread out. He also told me that keeping the room over 72 degrees is not necessary.

 

[Sound Bay Newfs]

I too am concerned about using a heat lamp around pups, Lou Ann, so I secure mine to the wall and position it OUTSIDE the litter box on a side where no one walks, so I feel comfortable with the set up.